A blog devoted to advancing the study of conscientious objection through the martial art of aikido.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Lessons From Finland

It has been pointed out that to maintain occupation armies a country must become a police state, and so it is with the USA, Soviet Union, etc. Occupation invites resistance, which must be suppressed, which in turn is a downward spiral into the police state. North Korea & Cuba occupy no other country and are police states, so it it is not sufficient reason, but it is necessary.From Finland's history comes some lessons:

We have the example of Jews fighting alongside Germans in WWII against the Soviets in Finland. The Jews rationalized they were fighting for Finland, not for nazism. But one lesson:

The men were Finnish, they had the full support of their superior officers, and the Germans – while often shocked to find themselves fighting alongside Jews – did not have the authority to upbraid them. In fact, where they found themselves outranked by a Jewish officer, they were forced to salute.

Just so... no power to abuse. It is a law that allows one group to abuse another. never give a state the power to make a law.

“I have heard a story about one Jewish soldier who was making his way back to camp with a German of a similar rank,” says Simon. “The Jew said to the German, ‘When we get back to camp, don’t tell people I’m Jewish.’ The German replied, ‘But nothing would happen to you – you’re a Finnish soldier. It’s me who would get into trouble.’?”

Just so... abusers are as deformed as the abused. Once the laws are made, it is a downward spiral as much for the beneficiaries as the victims.